Kori Teper and her new husband David didn't let the Peak 2 Fire, seen in the distance, get in the way of getting their wedding photos taken on the top of Swan Mountain Road on July 5, 2017 in Breckenridge. The two had just gotten married but were evacuated from where they were staying. The fire, which started shortly after noon, resulted in a mandatory evacuation for the Peak 7 neighborhood and an evacuation standby order for roughly 40 homes in the Gold Hill neighborhood. A shift in the wind is pushing the wildfire north and slowing its climb up the mountain. Eight smokejumpers and a local firefighting crew are on scene. An air attack is underway with a tanker dropping flame retardant and a helicopter conducting bucket drops. The fire broke out in the Gold Hill Trail area near Breckenridge.

Jack Queen, Summit Daily News

Flames rise above the trees as a wildfire burns near Breckenridge, Colo., on Wednesday, July 5, 2017. The fire was reported midday Wednesday and is burning in the White River National Forest.

Hugh Carey, Summit Daily News

A wildfire burns near Breckenridge, Colo., on Wednesday, July 5, 2017. The fire was reported midday Wednesday and is burning in the White River National Forest.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

Amy Noraka, holding daughter Sage, 3, left, and her husband Chris Noraka, with son Tyler, 6, watch as helicopters dump water on the Peak 2 fire on July 5, 2017 in Breckenridge. The fire, which started shortly after noon, resulted in a mandatory evacuation for the Peak 7 neighborhood and an evacuation standby order for roughly 40 homes in the Gold Hill neighborhood. A shift in the wind is pushing the wildfire north and slowing its climb up the mountain. Eight smokejumpers and a local firefighting crew are on scene. An air attack is underway with a tanker dropping flame retardant and a helicopter conducting bucket drops. The fire broke out in the Gold Hill Trail area near Breckenridge.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

Concerned residents look at the Peak 2 fire from the top of Swan Mountain Road on July 5, 2017 in Breckenridge. The fire, which started shortly after noon, resulted in a mandatory evacuation for the Peak 7 neighborhood and an evacuation standby order for roughly 40 homes in the Gold Hill neighborhood. A shift in the wind is pushing the wildfire north and slowing its climb up the mountain. Eight smokejumpers and a local firefighting crew are on scene. An air attack is underway with a tanker dropping flame retardant and a helicopter conducting bucket drops. The fire broke out in the Gold Hill Trail area near Breckenridge.

David Kish, Special to The Denver Post

The Breckenridge Fire as seen in the early afternoon on July 5, 2017.

Hugh Carey, Summit Daily News

A wildfire burns near Breckenridge on Wednesday, July 5, 2017.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

DeAnn Brogan, right, and her husband Phil, middle and son Josh, from Fairplay, watch as helicopters dump water on the Peak 2 fire on July 5, 2017 in Breckenridge. The fire, which started shortly after noon, resulted in a mandatory evacuation for the Peak 7 neighborhood and an evacuation standby order for roughly 40 homes in the Gold Hill neighborhood. A shift in the wind is pushing the wildfire north and slowing its climb up the mountain. Eight smokejumpers and a local firefighting crew are on scene. An air attack is underway with a tanker dropping flame retardant and a helicopter conducting bucket drops. The fire broke out in the Gold Hill Trail area near Breckenridge.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

Brian Pence uses binoculars to watch the Peak 2 fire from the top of Swan Mountain Road on July 5, 2017 in Breckenridge. The fire, which started shortly after noon, resulted in a mandatory evacuation for the Peak 7 neighborhood and an evacuation standby order for roughly 40 homes in the Gold Hill neighborhood. A shift in the wind is pushing the wildfire north and slowing its climb up the mountain. Eight smokejumpers and a local firefighting crew are on scene. An air attack is underway with a tanker dropping flame retardant and a helicopter conducting bucket drops. The fire broke out in the Gold Hill Trail area near Breckenridge.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

Concerned residents look at the Peak 2 fire from the top of Swan Mountain Road on July 5, 2017 in Breckenridge.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

Brian Pence uses binoculars to watch the Peak 2 fire from the top of Swan Mountain Road on July 5, 2017 in Breckenridge. The fire, which started shortly after noon, resulted in a mandatory evacuation for the Peak 7 neighborhood and an evacuation standby order for roughly 40 homes in the Gold Hill neighborhood. A shift in the wind is pushing the wildfire north and slowing its climb up the mountain. Eight smokejumpers and a local firefighting crew are on scene. An air attack is underway with a tanker dropping flame retardant and a helicopter conducting bucket drops. The fire broke out in the Gold Hill Trail area near Breckenridge.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

Kori Teper and her new husband David didn't let the Peak 2 Fire, seen in the distance, get in the way of getting their wedding photos taken on the top of Swan Mountain Road on July 5, 2017 in Breckenridge.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

Firetrucks arrive on scene to help fight the Peak 2 fire on July 5, 2017 in Breckenridge. The fire, which started shortly after noon, resulted in a mandatory evacuation for the Peak 7 neighborhood and an evacuation standby order for roughly 40 homes in the Gold Hill neighborhood. A shift in the wind is pushing the wildfire north and slowing its climb up the mountain. Eight smokejumpers and a local firefighting crew are on scene. An air attack is underway with a tanker dropping flame retardant and a helicopter conducting bucket drops. The fire broke out in the Gold Hill Trail area near Breckenridge.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

As the sun sets helicopters continue to make water dumps on the Peak 2 fire on July 5, 2017 in Breckenridge.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

Summit County sheriff deputies SJ Hamit, middle, and Mike Schilling, talk to residents about access to the Peak 7 neighborhood on July 6, 2017 in Breckenridge. Fire officials are still concerned with possible flare ups with the Peak 2 Fire so evacuation orders for the Peak 7 neighborhood are still in place. The deputies are allowing residents back to their homes but are taking names in order to know who is coming in and out of the neighborhood. Pre-evacuations are still in order for the town of Breckenridge, Farmer's Korner, Silver Shekel and Gold Hill neighborhoods. Resources on the fire include 8 smoke jumpers, one 20-person hotshot crew, two 20-person Type II hand crews, 2 helicopters dropping buckets of water, and several engines patrolling structures in the Peak 7 neighborhood.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

A moose nibbles on branches near a stream with her two young calves by her side in the Peak 7 neighborhood near the White River National Forest on July 6, 2017 in Breckenridge.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

A helicopter makes water drops on the the Peak 2 fire as it continues to burn in the White River National Forest on July 6, 2017 between Breckenridge and Frisco. Fire officials are still concerned with possible flare ups so evacuation orders for the Peak 7 neighborhood are still in place and pre-evacuations are in order for the town of Breckenridge, Farmer's Korner, Silver Shekel and Gold Hill neighborhoods. Resources on the fire include 8 smoke jumpers, one 20-person hotshot crew, two 20-person Type II hand crews, 2 helicopters dropping buckets of water, and several engines patrolling structures in the Peak 7 neighborhood.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

A fire engine makes it's way up a hill towards the Peak 2 fire as it continues to burn in the White River National Forest on July 6, 2017 between Breckenridge and Frisco. Fire officials are still concerned with possible flare ups so evacuation orders for the Peak 7 neighborhood are still in place and pre-evacuations are in order for the town of Breckenridge, Farmer's Korner, Silver Shekel and Gold Hill neighborhoods. Resources on the fire include 8 smoke jumpers, one 20-person hotshot crew, two 20-person Type II hand crews, 2 helicopters dropping buckets of water, and several engines patrolling structures in the Peak 7 neighborhood.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

Fire engines makes their way up a hill towards the Peak 2 fire as it continues to burn in the White River National Forest on July 6, 2017 between Breckenridge and Frisco. Fire officials are still concerned with possible flare ups so evacuation orders for the Peak 7 neighborhood are still in place and pre-evacuations are in order for the town of Breckenridge, Farmer's Korner, Silver Shekel and Gold Hill neighborhoods. Resources on the fire include 8 smoke jumpers, one 20-person hotshot crew, two 20-person Type II hand crews, 2 helicopters dropping buckets of water, and several engines patrolling structures in the Peak 7 neighborhood.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post

Summit County sheriff deputy SJ Hamit, middle, talks to residents about access to the Peak 7 neighborhood on July 6, 2017 in Breckenridge. Fire officials are still concerned with possible flare ups with the Peak 2 Fire so evacuation orders for the Peak 7 neighborhood are still in place. The deputies are allowing residents back to their homes but are taking names in order to know who is coming in and out of the neighborhood. Pre-evacuations are still in order for the town of Breckenridge, Farmer's Korner, Silver Shekel and Gold Hill neighborhoods. Resources on the fire include 8 smoke jumpers, one 20-person hotshot crew, two 20-person Type II hand crews, 2 helicopters dropping buckets of water, and several engines patrolling structures in the Peak 7 neighborhood.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Those evacuated from about 450 houses in the Breckenridge area because of the Peak 2 fire won’t be able to return home until at least Friday, authorities said. Despite making progress battling the burn, serious concerns remain about the potential for it to grow.

The U.S. Forest Service says the wildfire is 7 percent contained thanks to cloud cover Thursday, which gave crews the advantage they needed to begin getting a handle on the blaze.

But, according to Summit County Undersheriff Joel Cochran, flames are just over a mile from residences. With unfavorable weather possible in the coming days, it’s too risky to end the evacuation orders, he said. The fire is burning in extreme terrain in dense forest.

“We don’t want people to be out of their homes any longer than they need to be,” he said. “… We don’t know (how long the evacuations will last). We don’t know what the fire will do (Friday).”

The Peak 7 neighborhood remains under a mandatory evacuation order, and the Gold Hill and Farmer’s Korner areas, along with the town of Breckenridge, are still on a pre-evacuation notice.

The fire — burning about 2 miles north of Breckenridge Ski Resort — is estimated at about 85 acres. More than 100 firefighters and several helicopters were battling the burn Thursday under broken clouds, steady winds and the occasional drizzle. More resources, including a type one incident management team, are geared up to tackle the blaze in the coming days.

As a precaution, crews were working Thursday to reduce potential fire danger to homes in the areas surrounding the fire in case it spreads. That includes private companies working for insurance agencies as smoke wafted into the air from the burn.

“I think we pulled the trigger just because of the potential,” said John Rheinbolt, a supervisor for one of those businesses, Wildfire Defense Systems, as he stood at a Summit County Sheriff’s Office checkpoint at an entrance to the Peak 7 neighborhood.

Deputies were allowing residents to return to their houses briefly to pick up items they left behind. A steady stream of vehicles headed in and out of the subdivision.

Laurie Mason was keeping tabs on her house Thursday afternoon in the neighborhood after an ember from the wildfire blew miles to her property on Wednesday and burned a hole in her shirt. “Little pieces of burned pine trees and embers from the fire were floating in the air,” she said, standing outside of her mountain home in a light rain.

Officials say they don’t know how the fire began but that it ignited about 500 feet from a nearby trail. There hadn’t been lightning — how wildfires begin naturally — for a few days before the fire started. The Summit County Sheriff’s Office and Forest Service plan to investigate the blaze’s cause.

No injuries have been reported, and no structures have been damaged.

Dozens of residents, anxious to keep tabs on the situation, showed up Thursday night at a community meeting. The fire is the first real fire scare for many in the Breckenridge area, and Summit County has not had the destructive blazes experienced elsewhere in the state in the past two decades.

Officials say the fire is likely to burn for months — possibly until it snows — even after it is fully contained.

“If this is going to continue all summer, we might want to move somewhere else for a while,” said Richard Shaffer, who lives south of the mandatory evacuation zone, as he waited for the community meeting to begin.

“We’ve got the RV packed and ready,” said his wife, Pat. “It seems to be getting a lot better, but we just wanted to confirm that.”

Politics reporter. He has worked at The Denver Post since the summer of 2014, covering cops, courts, politics, environment, skiing and everything in between. He loves telling stories about Colorado's mountain towns and the Eastern Plains and wants to make sure our newspaper's great work extends into their communities.

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